You would think that it’s unfair that such a small little creature that brings you so much joy can actually fall sick. But it’s a fact of life that all living things are susceptible to illness, infections, and diseases and will ultimately die. Goldfish too are a species with its own set of health problems that will leave you feeling helpless. The best way to deal with this issue is to familiarize yourself with common health issues that goldfish face and reasons for their sickness. Knowing kinds of ailments will empower you with knowledge to be alert to symptoms and take appropriate steps to deal with if you can.

Ichtyopthirius

Simply called as Ick, this is most common disease that strikes down goldfish. Ick is a parasite that attaches to goldfish body. Causes: This happens when undue stress is put on goldfish due to bad water conditions, fluctuations in temperature and an overall poor quality of maintenance. 49

Symptoms: Look for small white spots that look like salt grain on goldfish’s skin, fins and gills.

What happens: This parasite attached to goldfish when it is stressed out due to bad conditions and feed off body of fish. The conditions worsen when Ick begins to lay its eggs and reproduces at a very fast pace.

Treatment: If your goldfish is a victim of Ick, treat him or her with an anti-parasite medication. Also you might have to raise water temperature to make this medication more effective. Ask an expert and follow instructions.

How can you prevent it: You can prevent Ick from growing by making sure that you maintain tank well with weekly changes and keep water fresh and pollution-free.

Fin Rot

Another common problem that goldfish suffer from is fin rot when it looks as if parts of fish’s fins and tails are wasting away.

Causes: This is also a bacterial infection arising out of poor water conditions. Fin rot usually happens to a fish that is already suffering from something else like an injury caused by tank bites that bite. They are already weak and fall prey to this infection.

Symptom: Watch out for frayed, rotting, often pale pinky-white edged fins and blood streaks on fin tissue.

What happens: The already stressed goldfish is infected by this bacterial infection and fins begin to rot away. Sometimes fungus attacks cause condition to worsen.

Treatment: You will need to treat your Goldfish with fin rot or anti-bacteria treatment to stop disease from spreading. Try adding salt to tank to make up for salt that fish has lost. Make sure that water is pollution-free.

How to prevent it: You can prevent fin rot by making sure that water quality is of high quality and see that you maintain it. Also it would be wise to isolate fish that are biting their tank mates.

Fungus

This is yet another bacterial infection that infects already injured and weak goldfish that are stressed out from poor quality water. However do not confuse it with cotton-wool disease.

Causes: Fungus is caused by Saprolegnia and Achlya bacteria that flourish in badly maintained tanks and attack wounds of goldfish. Symptoms: If you see fluffy growths on damaged wounds either on skin or fins of your goldfish, it’s fungus.

What happens: Fungus generally manifest in injuries and wounds left by ulcers and parasites and can be very damaging to fish.

Treatment: You would need to use standard anti-fungal medications like pretty effective methylene blue, which might however damage water quality. You can also use aquarium salt at a dose of 1-3g/litre.

How to prevent it: Improve water conditions because fungus never grows in a well-maintained tank with good quality water.

Constipation

This is bound to happen to your glutton goldfish at some point or other. Their body structure is such that they can’t take in too much food but their nature is such that they can’t stop eating!

Causes: Overeating and foods high in fat can cause a goldfish to get compacted Symptoms: Your goldfish might look a little bloated and isn’t as active.